"Why, of course, of course!" exclaimed the Major. "Harding! Dear me! Yes! You were attached to Colonel — er — Mason! Yes, yes! Well, this is a surprise! But what are you doing in the Police Force? You were — wait. I have it! You were reading law at — er — Oxford!"
"The War rather knocked that on the head, sir, so I joined the Police Force instead."
"Well, well, well!" said Major Grierson.
The Inspector moved to the desk, and put down the photograph he was still holding in his left hand. "Superintendent Lupton has just been giving me all the facts of this case, sir," he said. "It looks like being a bit of a teaser."
The Major's face clouded over. "Very bad business. Nasty — er — case, Harding. I felt at once it was — er -a matter for Scotland Yard. Too many people in it. Have you read the — er — statements?"
"Not yet, sir. I was going to suggest to the Superintendant that he should let me take them away with me now, so that I can study them before I go up to the Grange."
"By all means! Certainly! A very good — er — plan, Superintendent. Don't you — er — agree?"
The Superintendent, who had viewed with disfavour the meeting between the Major and.Inspector Harding said that he had no objection, but that in his opinion the sooner the Inspector went up to the Grange the better it would be.
The Inspector looked at his wrist-watch. "Then shall we say in an hour's time? That will make it half past three."
"Yes, yes, do just as you —- er — think best, Harding," said the Major. "Where are you — er — putting up?"